Sport & people

The women who won SAFF in 2022

Bangladesh's first SAFF Women's Championship title in 2022 brought a regional football breakthrough and fresh attention to the players behind it.

Bangladesh won its first SAFF Women's Championship on 19 September 2022, beating Nepal 3–1 in Kathmandu. The final was played at Dasharath Stadium against the host nation. Shamsunnahar opened the scoring and Krishna Rani Sarkar scored twice, giving Bangladesh a result that travelled far beyond the ground. Captain Sabina Khatun led the tournament's scoring with eight goals. Bangladesh also defeated India during the group stage, an important result against the competition's previously dominant side. The title was not an isolated good evening; it followed a campaign in which the team repeatedly turned preparation into convincing performances. An open-top bus carried the players through Dhaka after their return. The welcome made women's football unusually visible in public space. Behind that celebration lay years of training and the work of coaches, families and local organisers. The lasting question was how to turn applause into reliable opportunities, including regular matches, safe facilities and a viable playing career.